Sinister changes are afoot in Arash-Felloren. Imorren, the first woman to lead the Kyrosdyn-the crystal workers-has secretly ordered the transfer of the Jyolan Fighting Pits to Barran, the mercenary who controls most of the crystal trade. It will give him great power in the huge and ancient city. But why would Imorren do this? And why would she bring to the surface a creature from the caves deep below the city-a creature of ancient myth-a creature she calls 'the harbinger of a new age"?